Seventeen teaching posts may be lost from 15 national schools throughout the county for this coming academic year, according to a provisional list issued by the Department of Education this week, which based its figures on pupil enrolment returns from schools and the operation of the staffing schedule.
The Westport area seemed to be particularly hit with three teaching losses in SN Coill An Bhail, Murrisk NS, and SN Colm Naofa, Coggale, however, the document also highlighted two Westport schools in which an additional teacher post would be created, in Drumgallagh NS Ballycroy, and SN Lainn Cille.
Schools in Kiltimagh and Ballina are to cut two teaching positions each — Craggagh NS, Kiltimagh, and SN Inbhear, Barr na Trá. The remaining schools to lose one teaching post are SN Deirble, Beal Dearg, Ballina; St Columba’s NS, Inisturk; Beannchor NS, Bangor, Erris ; Scoil Naomh Brid, Ballycastle; Achill Sound Convent NS ; Scoil Naomh Sheosamh, Shrule; Convent of Mercy, Castlebar; Tavrane Central NS, Kilkelly; Kiltimagh Central, Kiltimagh; and Swinford NS.
Fine Gael TD Enda Kenny slammed the decision of the Minister for Education to change the pupil/teacher ratio with Deputy Kenny highlighting that the case of Bangor Erris NS losing a teachers showed the “daftness of the Department decision”.
According to Dep Kenny the school had 80 children on roll in September 2008 and needs 81 to retain its teacher. In October, another child was enrolled bringing the total to 81, however, because of “bureaucratic rules”, the school stands to lose a teacher as the date set is September 2008 and also does not account for the increase in pupils attending this September due to the influx of extra families in the area as a consequence of the Corrib Gas project. Dep Kenny said that “flexibility” should be shown by the Department of Education “in particular and specific cases like this”.
Labour representative Harry Barrett, a teacher himself, expressed his disgust with the Government which “has lost all moral authority to govern” when there is “yet another attack on the children of this county”.
The Department’s proviso of schools which will gain a teacher for the 2009/2010 year include three Ballina schools: SN Muine Chonallain; SN Naomh Ioseph, Raithini; and Scoil Íosa, Convent Hill. The last school in the county to gain a teaching post is SN Oileán Eadaigh, Castlebar.
The Department of Education document also said that schools “may, under certain criteria, appeal their projected losses to the Staffing Appeals Board” and that the final staffing position for all schools will be known in October/November of this year.
